Don’t Miss the Wait

 

          During dark rainy winter days the garden sits waiting.  Waiting.  A lot of life is used up and spent waiting.  Waiting to grow up, waiting for a husband or a baby, waiting for a package or letter, waiting for the red light to change, waiting, waiting, waiting.  I remember one of the main things I learned in college was how to wait in lines.  Waiting in grocery lines.  Waiting at the doctor’s office.

          I love spending time in my cottage.  I’m learning watercolor painting and it is fun learning to paint along with our cherubs.  Painting flowers and gardens is another way to enjoy gardening.  I also wait for spring to arrive as I study seed and garden catalogs.  You can even see Emmy, our dog, waiting at the window.  Waiting is a faith venture.  God assures us in Genesis 8:22 that “as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”  Although I am waiting for spring, I count on God’s Word that He will bring each season in time.  Isaiah 40:31 has a wonderful word picture.  “But they that WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  The Hebrew root meaning for the word “wait” is that of twisting or winding a strand of cord or rope.  It sounds like braiding some cord together.  What cords are being braided?  As I wait I am being bound together with my Lord.  We are entwined together in a way that cannot be broken.  This kind of waiting is totally different, one that makes it a cherished experience with God.  

The cherubs helped me plant some peas and sweet peas the other day.  More waiting as we anticipate crunchy peas to eat and smell the sweetness of the flowers.  We will sing praises to God when we see the tiny seedlings pop out of the ground.  God gives us so many things to wait for.  Let’s not waste waiting.  Let’s use waiting to experience the presence of Jesus.    

                                                                                                                     K.C.

God’s Invitation

 

          In the midst of the world’s turmoil, it seems trivial to write about garden analogies.  Life is so uncertain and fragile.  We do not know our days, but God has them in His hand.  God’s Word assures us that He is in full control of all kings and rulers as well as our days.  I don’t live in the realm of political world rulers, but in the common everyday part of God’s world.  Even though living a quiet life, I agonize with hurting people across the world and pray constantly for their safety, for their relationship with God, and for their families.  God invites us to be with Him in His plans for the world.  His invitation brings us together as close family when we pray and care for those who are hurting and in need.  

          Winter months I spend a lot of time in my cottage where I can paint and watch the birds, listen to worship music, and pray.  This is where God has placed me at this stage of life, and His invitation constantly brings me to His throne.  I open my door to talk to the birds, and the peaceful quiet is balm to the soul.  Even as I relish this setting, my heart is across the world praying for those who wish they could be in their peaceful homes.  One day God will bring us to His permanent home.  He has many rooms in His mansion, enough room for all who trust in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection.  His invitation is constantly being sent to each.  His invitation is for time today with Him and also for eternity.  One day soon we will meet those we have prayed for and know that together we are God’s family.  Now that is amazing!  All because of God’s invitation, because of His lovingkindness and mercy.  

                                                                                                                                      K.C.

The Quietness of God

 

           Finally, the cold came!  Freezing temperatures  surely change the face of the garden.  I just love the designs that frost creates.  White edges of the leaves swirl a lovely design on this chard plant.  The car windows were gorgeous with their frosty mosaic patterns and graceful lace embroidery.  Frosty spider webs sparkle in the early morning.  I love looking for God’s beauty and surprises throughout the garden in each season.  His times are just right, His seasons point to His faithfulness, His artistic touches abound, and His power is quietly revealed.  Have you ever thought about God’s power when looking at a frosty leaf?  What amazing power it takes to produce such effects in a garden!  And yet, God does not announce His power with cymbals and trumpets when He freezes the earth. Nevertheless, His power is amazing and rules over all. God’s seasons come every year, yet He doesn’t announce them either.  

          One of the things about God that intrigues me is His quietness.  In a freeze or when it snows the air gets really quiet and hushed. He doesn’t need to boast or brag about His works.  He doesn’t need our human attention or approval to do His work.  He knows what He is about, and He accomplishes His will.  Whether it is bringing a freeze to the earth or bringing a heart change to my soul, God usually does it quietly.  Now I know God also works with flashes of thunder and lightning, but for a few minutes let’s meditate on His quiet works. All of creation is held together by God’s very Word.  Colossians 1:16 - 17.  From stars and atoms to mountains and humans, God is the quiet sustainer.  What marvelous power!  If this is so, and it is, then my role is to look for quiet small revelations that bespeak His power.  Marvel at butterflies and cocoons, rosebuds and worms, rivers and trees.  Marvel as well at His quiet nudge to my heart to worship our awesome God.  His quietness really is shouting at me!  It changes me!  I bow my head before my great and all powerful Creator. 

                                                                                                                            K.C.

The Fight is On

 

          There’s always a lesson in the garden, and continually I am listening for God’s voice in the garden.  He is so faithful to speak if only I take time to look and listen.  These days I see that the fight is on!  January, the cold month of winter, keeps its rough war against flowers in the garden.  Yet, all through the month roses have been fighting on and even blooming!  Never before have I had roses blooming in January.  They look a bit stressed, but their color is vibrant and bright.  An analogy has come home to my heart this week.

          Reading the book of Judges has been put off recently because it is such a sad book.  Israel had been rescued and redeemed out of Egypt, and had seen the miraculous wonders of God’s hand for them. Yet Israel failed to obey God and take the new land.  Chapter 2:12 says they forsook the Lord God of their fathers and they followed other gods all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.  Down a few verses to verse 17, it says they turned “quickly” from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord.  Oh how quick we are to turn from God’s way!  The next chapter is what has come home to my heart this week.  Chapter 3:1 - 2 says the Lord left nations in the land that He might test Israel by them, that “Israel might be taught to know war”.  

          Resisting war and always wanting to run is not God’s way.  I am one to run away rather than fight or confront.  I am willing to walk away and let someone have their way if only it makes for “peace”.  God’s way is for us to learn to war, to put on all the promised armor Ephesians 6 talks about, to fight the enemy of our souls. I cannot outrun or out-hide my enemy. I have to press forward and fight to take ground.  I have to fight.  Fight the assaults on my mind.  Fight assaults that want  to overtake me such as insecurities,  depression, fear, failures, etc. which are constantly being speared toward my mind especially in human relationships. I’m talking about fighting the war in my mind and heart against these thoughts, not fighting people. There is no true peace when I walk away without fighting those darts that assail me. My only peace is at the feet of Jesus, and He said I will have tribulation in the world.  John 16:33 and Matthew 10:34-36 tell me that in this world I will have to fight and war.  I have put on the armor of God for protection, but God wants me to put it on to fight as well and press on.

          These roses are a clear picture to me of fighting back, and they are beautiful to behold in the dead of winter!  Against the continual dreary fog and cold of winter they provide a bright bold color that encourages my heart to fight back and take ground, too.  May we continually remember that God wants us to stand and fight for His ground in our hearts and lives.  Let us not make deals with the enemy.  Let us not settle but press on for higher ground.  May our Lord help us as we fight in His name for His glory.  May we not settle until our peace is only in Jesus.  

                                                                                                                       K.C.

          

The Star

 

          Throughout the summer plants and flowers take turns being the star of the show. One will shine and show off especially beautiful petals while another is fading off.  There are many favorites but this is one of my most favorites, the mandevilla.  With its long tendrils, vines, and continual blooms throughout the summer warmth it is so dramatic and striking that it takes the prize.  Right now, the freezing snowy weather is striking my mandevilla down for the winter, although it lasted through the fall months in the sun room.  It is just a special star in the garden with brilliant almost fluorescent petals that draw your eyes.  

          People like to be the star of the show, too.  Each of us sometimes get in the rut of thinking that we are the center of life.  So many verses in God’s Word tell us that God cares for us, He loves us, He died for us, He saves us, He fills us, He walks with us, He never forsakes us, He answers our prayers, He protects us, He feeds us, He guides us, He plans for us, and the list goes on.  Sometimes God does so much for us that we start thinking that we are the star.  Recently God abruptly literally stopped me in my tracks.  It’s like He spoke out loud to me!  “You are not the star.  You are not the center.  You are not what life is about.  I am.  I am worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  I am the Star.  Worship Me.  You need to rearrange your thinking.  You need to repent of your self-centered thinking.  My work in the world is way bigger than your little life.  Let go of your hurts and worries and look at Me.  I am the Star.”

          There was an immediate relief in my heart and mind!  A gigantic burden slipped off.  A clarity in vision and purpose filled my mind.  Life isn’t about me - it is about the Star and about His plan.  Sometimes we get so focused on our little life that we get tunnel vision.  It was invigorating to have God stop me in my tracks and refocus my vision.  It also took worries and frets and fears away, putting them where they belong - on Him.  Repenting released my heart in an amazing way!  What a wonderful and strange God!  God is nothing like us.  God is in another category!  And oh, how glad we are!  God is the Star!                    

                                                                                                                  K.C.

Unexpected Expectations

 

          I’ve been cleaning up the raised beds and pots of sad leaves and debris.  Rains have come and flowers have said good by for the season.  Expectations of withered leaves and bare branches have taken over.  It’s always with some sad thoughts I tuck away the beds for winter.  But one dreary day my attention was drawn to something purple in the side flowerbed.  Low and behold the old fashioned bluebells were blooming once again!  They had died off and now had grown back!  Now that was the unexpected expectation!  I had expected everything to be totally done and dead, but here they were growing lovely as ever!  That made me walk around the yard to see what other treasures I could find.  A lone nicotiana blossom stood to cheer me as well as a few tiny roses that were giving it their all.  The unexpected blossoms were a delight, especially considering that my bleak winter expectations had taken reign in my mind.  Bleak expectations can really darken and hamper our minds. 

          Are you giving space to bleak expectations in your life?  The times are sobering, serious, and scary.  Between a pandemic, politics, and worldwide catastrophes, we are living in trying days.  During these last few months the  Lord has been nudging me to quit reading so much news and instead to focus on Him.  To expect not the expected but the unexpected.  Looking for God’s work in others, looking for His presence, looking at His promises, and looking for His blessings in the darkness have been changing my outlook.  God is asking me to expect His goodness that is bringing everything together for the return of Jesus Christ.   Psalm 62 is a great challenge to meditate on.  “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation;  He is my defense;  I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory;  the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”  Along the way, God is shining His light in this world, and He wants us to raise praises to His name!  When His promises and glory are reigning in my mind and heart, the whole world, as well as people, will look different.  We are to be set apart, redeemed, and heavenly minded people.  Letting God be God, I am open to see the unexpected because our God has a habit of doing the unexpected.  Let’s not live with dark negative thoughts that hamper us from singing the praises of our Lord Jesus Christ!  

                                                                                                                                             K.C., 

 Jj '

Redirected Desires

                                              Starting with washing windows.

Then the labor of love.

         

The finished sunroom !  Come for a cup of tea or frosty glass of lemonade.

These summer months have been great for the mandevilla, 

but not so great for us as it get over 120 degrees !

          

          Many years in the making.  A lifetime.  You know, those dreams you possess for years and years that are so illusive.  Being the gardener that I am, I’ve always wanted a greenhouse to start seedlings in, to relax and escape in, to create in. Alas, now that life’s years have passed, I dropped that desire only to have my husband pick up the project.  I do wonder sometimes about God’s timing.  Instead of a rustic greenhouse for plants though, he built a lovely retreat where we can relax, read, or just gaze out the windows.  It is like God wanted this sunroom to be a cozy place of friendship and relationship rather than a place of labor. It is way lovelier that I ever imagined!  

          I’ve been thinking about this exchanged and redirected desire.  God redirects us through different stages of life.  After a lifetime of varied and continually changing relationships, I am focusing on rest.  Restful relationships that abide and relax.  Relationships that demand nothing except the desire to be together. I’m not sure there are human relationships like this, but one thing I do know:  God desires this kind of relationship.  From Genesis on, God has made it abundantly clear to us in every way possible that He is looking for times to walk together in the garden or abide together in the quiet of the vineyard.  Times to sit at His feet or to follow in His yoke.  It is these times that we listen to God’s voice of love, tenderness, correction, mercy, or direction.  

          There is a desire in my heart for human relationship like this as well.  This week visiting with an old friend only emphasized this.  We talked together about Jesus which strengthens the intertwining triangle of friendship.  I not only long to abide with Jesus but with others who love Him as well.  Don’t you?  What a marvelous gift from our Savior who calls us together to be His family!  With these thoughts I invite you to come to my sunroom for a refreshing visit together with Jesus.  

                                                                                                                                          K.C.